According to Canvas Chronicle, Tim Sylvia will face Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira at UFC 81 for the vacant heavyweight title. Feel free to harass the Chronicle’s editor Ric Gillespie (ric@canvaschronicle.com) until the bastard reveals his source.

It would be great if there’s some truth to this one. Minotauro was an animal in PRIDE; he’s destroyed fighters like Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Coleman and Bob Sapp, and his only career losses have come against Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett, and Fedor Emelianenko (he beat Henderson and Barnett in rematches). Though Nogueira’s had only one fight in the UFC, he deserves a title shot just as much as Sylvia, and would likely eat the “Maine-iac” for lunch.